Manpower - Job Seekers - Careers Advice

Covering Letters

>> Layout and Content
>> Sample Covering Letter (MS Word)
>> Free templates for MS Office owners

It's always polite to send a letter to accompany your CV and it is a chance to convince them to call you in for that all important interview. Use the opportunity to highlight key attributes or areas of your experience directly relevant to the position that you are applying for, but try not to ramble - you should, if possible, keep it to just one side.

Layout and Content
Your CV should have a formal feel to it, so your letter gives you the opportunity to let your personality and enthusiasm for the job itself to shine through. Keep the layout as a standard formal business letter but consider the position that you are applying for. If it's in a sector such as financial services a straightforward formal style will be expected. However, if it's for say, a marketing role, a more creative approach may be appropriate.

Get to the point quickly without waffling and within the first paragraph, and mention the job that you're applying for along with an explanation of why you are right for it.

Use the following paragraphs as an opportunity to develop these points and expand on your relevant experience and aptitude for the job. You should finish your letter positively and confidently and show that you expect a response by giving your contact details or stating when you intend on contacting them.

>> Sample Covering Letter

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Free templates for MS Office owners
If you own Microsoft Office software you can make use of Microsoft's Office Template Gallery which has 100's of examples of business documents including many CV's and covering letters.

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